12 comments so far

Couple of things I noticed: There isn’t a support rail under the front desk top or any support at all in the center. I’m concerned it might need something there especially if you plan to put equipment on top. A center support like the sides would look good along with a rail, maybe like the arched one in the back.

Also, the top shelf butts in to the sides….. looks a little modern and officey. What if you made it like the counter top and added smaller scrolled corbels? A 1 1/4” face frame would give it some weight too.

Hi JerryThe front apron rail needs to be wider given your dealing with a 8’ span. I agree the top shelf needs more Misson elements ,perhaps a frame and spindles(a small scale of the lower table ends)or a through tenon or two(or mock ones), plus an apron on the top shelf to echo the one on the desk.

reedwood – RE: There isn’t a support rail under the front desk top or any support at all in the center. I’m concerned it might need something there especially if you plan to put equipment on top. A center support like the sides would look good along with a rail, maybe like the arched one in the back.

I’m struggling with how to support the top. Do you have any suggestions as to how to better support the top without interfering with my legs under the desktop? The underside in the front needs to be clear. Here is how I envision using it.

RE: Also, the top shelf butts in to the sides….. looks a little modern and officey.

As you can see in the picture above, the top shelf does not really butt into the sides, it was just hard to see that it didn’t in the first render I uploaded. It DOES however, butt into the back edge, and that is just necessity. I’m attaching the shelf to the top with T and L brackets, at least that’s my plan unless someone suggests or I come up with a more appealing idea.

a1Jim – RE: The front apron rail needs to be wider given your dealing with a 8’ span.

Again, the first picture did not represent the model as well as it could have, the apron is in the rear, there isn’t and cannot be one in the front, but I can definitely increase the width of it, if I am understanding which part you are referring to correctly

RE: I agree the top shelf needs more Misson elements ,perhaps a frame and spindles(a small scale of the lower table ends)or a through tenon or two(or mock ones)

I will try to come up with something along these lines, it’s a good idea. I know this is falling a little short of complete “Mission – y – ness”, but I’ve had to take into account some practical considerations regarding the functionality of the piece as a recording studio desk.

RE: ..plus an apron on the top shelf to echo the one on the desk.

I need to leave the back of the shelf open for power cords, etc, so I’m not sure how I could do that. Can you please elaborate Jim?

-- There are good ships and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships and may they always be.

Jerry I believe you do need a apron in the front of the desk area and the upper shelf for structural . It would not need to fill the whole space behind the upper shelf so wires could still be connected .You could even think about putting a series of slots along the top edge of the upper rail as a design element and to run wires through.

a1Jim – RE: I believe you do need a apron in the front of the desk area

Hey Jim, I am not getting this, how could I do that with a keyboard drawer in the way? It’s attached to the underside of the top dead center and slides underneath the top when not in use. Can you explain further, I think I’m missing something you’re trying to get across..

…and the upper shelf for structural . It would not need to fill the whole space behind the upper shelf so wires could still be connected .

Agreed. Personally it seems to me that the two center uprights would give plenty of structural support to that top shelf, but I can see where an arched apron would add meaningful design cues, and would offer further support. I liked your ideas of the spindles and through tenons, I’m going to work on that as well.

You could even think about putting a series of slots along the top edge of the upper rail as a design element and to run wires through.

True, but if I understand your suggestion correctly, an arched apron on the rear of the top shelf would still leave the bottom open for wires and cords, right?

-- There are good ships and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships and may they always be.

Ok Jerry I guess I missed the face your going to have drawers. You still can have a straight apron above the drawers.I wish I understood Sketch up so I could show you. Yes your right you could gor both ways with slotts or just and arched upper shelf.

Well, I am not having drawers per se, look at this picture. I’m just going to have something like this hanging off the bottom of the underside of the top for my keyboard to sit on, so given the way this attaches, I still can’t understand how I can put an apron on the front

-- There are good ships and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships and may they always be.

JerryLets say you have a 3” wide apron and the legs on your key board slid are 2 1/2” you just add a filler strip under the table top of 1/2” or whatever you need for the key board to have clearance. You just have to make sure that you connect the apron to the top with figure 8s and install the filler strips with screws that have elongated holes for wood movement.

Okay, I get what you are saying. I was confused because I was still envisioning an arched apron on the front. I suppose I could make that work with the system you are describing as well. I don’t get the figure 8 thing though. I was going to fabricate some L shaped wooden blocks to attach the top to the frame with. I’m sorry to be such a spud, but you obviously know what you are talking about, and I’m trying to learn… How would a figure 8 make the right angle turn from the back side of the apron to the underside of the top.

-- There are good ships and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships and may they always be.